Trauma-Informed
Every program and interaction is grounded in trauma-informed principles that prioritize safety, trust, and empowerment.
Her Story
Every Survivor Has a Story Worth Telling
Behind every statistic is a person. Behind every person is a story of courage.
In Loving Memory
Carletta E McIntyre
“This nonprofit is dedicated to the memory of Carletta E McIntyre — a queen, a mother, a grandmother, a minister, a friend, a sister, an aunt, a warden, and a loving Christian.”
Carletta’s life embodied the values at the heart of Sonship Life: faith, love, service, and an unwavering commitment to community. Her memory inspires every program we build, every survivor we serve, and every child whose life we touch.
From the Founder
A Son’s Tribute
My name is Damon Davenport and I am the founder of Sonship Life.
My mom got married at 17. They moved to Louisiana and stayed there until she turned 19 and gave birth to my brother. She ended up divorcing him and then she moved back to San Francisco.
She met my father at 22 and I was born. She stayed single, but got involved with a man all the way up until I was 12 years old — he abused her mentally, financially, physically, and emotionally. After him, she stayed celibate and gave herself to the Lord and focused on raising two young boys on her own.
She was a godmother of an un-numbered amount of children. She was a twin. She was a devoted non-denominational Christian. She became an ordained minister where she started her own church after going through different churches, and she traveled the world, giving and speaking the word. She spoke to other churches and individuals passing the word from the Lord in other countries. She helped out numerous people in communities.
She never left anyone out and she had no problems putting a person in their place. She had her faults throughout her life, but when she gave herself to the Lord, all of those faults changed. She did not hesitate in listening to the Lord and doing as the Lord said to do. She loved to have good clean fun.
When she passed away on Easter Sunday of 2008 at 3:20 AM, that day we should have been embracing family. She would have had all of the family — her brothers, her sons, and her grandchildren — all supposed to come to the house for Easter service and Easter dinner, but it didn’t happen. She was called back to the Lord at that time in the morning.
“For people or children seeking refuge our doors were always open, regardless of who they were. She was always there with open arms. She always made sure that anyone around her was never hungry. Anybody around her felt loved and knew that they had her attention. She made sure of it.”
Memories & Moments
Memories of Mom
A glimpse into the lives, celebrations, and community that make Sonship Life special.
Our Mission
Healing Is Possible
Domestic violence touches every community, every background, every walk of life. At Sonship Life, we believe that healing is possible — not just survival, but true restoration of wholeness, dignity, and hope.
Our programs are built on the understanding that trauma requires more than temporary shelter. It requires community, therapeutic support, life skills, and a faith-centered foundation that reminds every survivor of their inherent worth and value.
Through counseling, educational pathways, community mentorship, and aftercare support, we walk alongside survivors — not just through crisis, but toward a future of independence and flourishing.
Faith-Centered
We believe in the inherent dignity and worth of every person, rooted in a faith that restores and renews.
Holistic Healing
We address the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — through counseling, life skills, community support, and vocational pathways.
Community-Driven
Volunteers, donors, and partners are the backbone of everything we do. Together, we change lives.
Be Part of the Story
Your support — whether through volunteering, donating, or spreading the word — helps write the next chapter for survivors in our community.
From Crisis to Calling
A Seamless Path Forward
Our crisis restoration path connects with our broader campus vision — bridging immediate healing with the specialized vocational tracks at Wellspring Culinary and RISE Trades, so every survivor transitions from crisis into a self-determined future.
1
Crisis Restoration
Immediate safe shelter, trauma-informed care, counseling, and faith-centered support stabilize mind, body, and spirit. Survivors are seen, heard, and restored to their full identity.
2
Campus Integration
Graduates of our restoration program transition into our campus environment — a purpose-built space where healing becomes the foundation for economic independence. Survivors move into Wellspring Culinary or RISE Trades, carrying their restored identity into a career and a life fully their own.
Vocational Track
Wellspring Culinary
A professional culinary training program that transforms survivors into skilled food-service professionals. Participants earn industry certifications, build entrepreneurial foundations, and discover the restorative power of nourishing others.
Vocational Track
RISE Trades
Hands-on skilled trades training — construction, electrical, plumbing, and more — equipping survivors with high-demand certifications and the confidence to build a self-sufficient future on their own terms.
Equine-Assisted Learning & Sensory Programs (Planned)
As part of our comprehensive restorative vision, Sonship Life is designing therapeutic animal interaction and equine-assisted learning environments to support trauma recovery, emotional regulation, and neurodivergent youth.
Clinical notice: Equine-assisted learning, occupational wellness, and specialized sensory programs will be delivered exclusively in coordination with licensed therapeutic specialists and accredited healthcare professionals upon campus activation.